Tech Exchange - Oakland Public Education Fund

Bridging the Digital Divide

Tech Exchange was founded in West Oakland in 1995 by a retired IBM Executive who saw the opportunity to close the digital divide by refurbishing donated computers and providing them to families in need. Tech Exchange is dedicated to providing digital equity to all underserved Bay Area households through our technology reuse model. We source used technology from technology contribution partners, refurbish devices in-house, and distribute computers to those in San Francisco and the Bay Area who lack technology access. An estimated 1.5 million Bay Area residents do not have home Internet access, preventing them from accessing online information and services. In order to address this digital divide, Tech Exchange prioritizes serving disadvantaged community members who are digitally excluded and improves economic security conditions for low-income individuals of all ages through technology and information access and skill-building.

Tech for All

Our core solution, Tech for All, connects low-income families who are digitally disconnected by providing them with a free refurbished computer, digital skills workshop, free tech support, and assistance accessing affordable $10/month Internet. Supplementing Tech Exchange’s Tech for All program is the Tech Hub. Tech Exchange’s Tech Hub serves as a central, inclusive space for community members to access a high-quality computer lab for school, work and other life needs, and to access a suite of trainings on digital literacy skills both from Tech Exchange staff members, and from partner organizations. Our dynamic Tech Hub offers greater access for community members to receive information on affordable Internet offers, receive free or low-cost computers, as well as attend trainings and receive tech support.

Investing in Our Community

Tech Exchange is deeply embedded within the Bay Area and all of our work is based on the importance of investing in the community. Tech Exchange takes pride in being one of the select few organizations dedicated to bridging the digital divide. Over the last 24 years, we have distributed 49,000 refurbished computers to our community, provided over 25,000 instructional hours of computer training, offered 200 youth technical internships, and have diverted over 850 tons of e-waste from landfills in the process.